Amongst all the undoubtedly cheering news from America (Rumsfeld gone!), I noted with interest Norm's aside-

"It may also contribute in a small way to 'normalizing' debate elsewhere in the world about America's international role."

We shall see...

Well of course us atheists have known this for a long time-
Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'

But it is good to see it in print- in The Times in fact- via a report published in a US academic publication "The Journal of Religion and Society"

some choice bits

"RELIGIOUS belief can cause damage to a society, contributing towards high murder rates, abortion, sexual promiscuity and suicide, according to research published today.

According to the study, belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems."

"The study shows that England, despite the social ills it has, is actually performing a good deal better than the USA in most indicators, even though it is now a much less religious nation than America."

Smug, me.